April 2001, San Fran, CA, 1 Week Later

Lorelai smoothed out her white gown and put on her teardrop pearl earrings. Smiling at herself in the mirror, Lorelai grabbed her purse and walked into the living room.

"Ta-da!" She announced.

Rory, munching on popcorn, turned away from the television. "Mom!" Rory gasped. "You look gorgeous!"

Lorelai smiled. "Thanks." She held her bag with one hand and pulled her shoes on with another.

Rory nodded and licked the butter off her fingers. "Have fun," Rory said ruefully. "You're so lucky!"

Lorelai smiled goofily. "I'll sneak you some food."

Rory grinned. "It'll get all moldy before you get home..."

"I'll get you food anyways," Lorelai replied smiling. "You sure you're gonna be okay by yourself?"

"Mom, I'm sixteen and Sally lives right next door," Rory replied. "I'll be fine, it's only a weekend."

"Right, right," Lorelai replied and kissed her daughter on the forehead. She went back into the bedroom to take off the dress and put on her 'road-trip' clothes.

A honk from outside had Lorelai clumsily opening the door while trying to pull on her coat. "See ya, babe!"

Lorelai ran down the stairs of her apartment building as fast as she could with her bags. "Charlize! Hey!" Lorelai said as she slipped into the little convertible. "Nice car," She commented.

Charlize nodded. "My boyfriend's."

"Nice boyfriend." Lorelai commented, looking approvingly at the leather interior.

"Yeah, or I'm just really good at convincing him to let me borrow his car" Charlize replied and winked as she turned a corner. Lorelai giggled.

"This is going to be sooo fun!!!" Charlize had a giddy smile on her face.

Lorelai nodded. "And the food is going to be great!!" She smacked her lips.

Charlize rolled her eyes. "You and food.."

Lorelai turned to her and smiled proudly. "Just drive, Charlize..."

************************

April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

Jess leaned on the counter and pretended to read his book. Kirk eyed him and his hand crept across the counter to grab more Equal.

Jess grabbed Kirk's hand. "No more," He said, his eyes still on the book. "Drop it."

Kirk hesitantly dropped the packets of Equal. "Why can't I have more?"

"'Cuz Uncle Luke said not to take any more," Jess answered automatically. He put down his book. When had he started to listen to 'Uncle' Luke?

"Hell, take as many as you want," Jess suddenly said and shrugged.

He saw Luke walk down the stairs into the diner. "I'm going out," Jess said to his uncle and walked out of the diner before he could protest.

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

Jess rubbed his sneaker against the worn wood of the bridge. He sighed and threw a rock into the slow water, causing a small splash. He had called James Mariano a week ago and still hadn't heard from him about the ticket.

He almost felt bad about taking the ticket from James when he had no intention of coming to see him.

But on the other hand, he felt that he deserved it. After all, James Mariano had ditched Liz and him when they needed him most. Jess closed his eyes as the memories came flooding back. The times when Liz couldn't pay the rent, when Jess had to go to the Father's Day breakfast by himself at school... Had James Mariano been there? Did he ever send a card? Or ever called? Jess thought back to the little boy who had asked Santa every year for his dad to come back.

Then he stopped believing.

Jess shook his head and looked up sky with another sigh. There were so many times when he had needed someone...

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April 2001, Los Angeles, CA, same night

Lorelai stood next to the appetizer and desesrt tables and surveyed the scene before her. The beautiful women in gorgeous gowns.. the tall, handsome men escorting their dates into the ballroom... Lorelai smiled. It certainly was a glamorous life. And she was just a visitor to it all. Lorelai turned around. "Char-.." Charlize wasn't standing next to her anymore. Instead, in her place, stood a handsome dark-haired man. "Sorry," Lorelai quipped. "I thought you were someone else.."

The man nodded. "No prob." He reached across the table for some hors d'oeuvres.

"Of course, the person I thought you were is a woman," Lorelai continued to talk. She picked up a white chocolate truffle and popped it in her mouth. "But you didn't need to know that."

"But now I do," The man replied. He smirked slightly. "Thanks," He replied sarcastically.

Lorelai stepped back. Whoa there She was just trying to make conversation, after all. I don't get these Hollywoodies at all. "Well, uh, sorry to interrupt your...uh..." She made pointing motions at his full plate. "Meal."

"Snack," He replied and popped a cheese & pepper minishell into his mouth. "Well, I guess it's more of a meal.. but I didn't have a chance to have dinner after shooting and all."

"Shooting?" Lorelai asked and grabbed another truffle. She let the sweet dark chocolate spread through her mouth. "Are you in the mafia?" She whispered to him.

The man gawked at her and a slow, amused smile spread across his face. "No, actually, I'm a director," he replied rather smugly.

Lorelai smiled slightly at his cocky attitude. "Well, that was my next guess."

The man nodded. "I'm sure it was."

She bit into on a chocolate covered strawberry.

"What have you directed?"

"Mostly t.v. stuff," He answered. He didn't continue, so Lorelai assumed that he didn't want to go into it further.

"I see.." She cleared her throat. "I'm Lorelai Gilmore." She smiled at him. Cocky or not, it wouldn't hurt to know a t.v. director. It was pretty cool.

He took the hand she offered him. "James Mariano."

************************

April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

Luke wiped the counter one last time before looking out onto the dark street. Where is this kid? Frowning, he threw the dishrag down on the counter and walked out of the diner.

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

Jess shifted his weight and cradled the phone against his ear. Come on, come on... He willed someone to pick up the phone.

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

Luke saw a dark figure next to the pay phone across the street. Jess?

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, same night

"What are you doing?"

Startled, Jess dropped the phone. It was Luke. "What?"

"What are you doing?" Luke folded his arms and glared at him.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Jess asked cockily. "I'm making a phone call."

"To whom?"

Jess shrugged. "Someone you don't know." He picked up the swinging phone and put it back down on the receiver. Jess walked around Luke and started back towards the diner.

"Don't just walk away from me!" Luke shouted across the circle.

"I don't have to answer to you!" Jess yelled back and opened the door of the diner. He walked in and let the door shut behind him.

Luke angrily rubbed his eyes with a closed fist and wondered he should do with this kid.

************************

April 2001, Los Angeles, CA, same night

"I take it that this isn't really your scene," Lorelai commented as James untied his tie and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Not really," James answered. He threw his empty plate into the trash and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I didn't want to come, but supposedly, I'm expected to come."

Lorelai nodded. "Well.." She tried to think of something else to say, but for the first time in her life, she was speechless. "Uh.. so.. I hear Nicole Kidman is.. really .. tall." She stopped a second and frowned.

"James!" A man waved him over into the crowd.

"Great," James muttered. "The faster we get this over, the better."

Lorelai frowned at his retreating back. Whoever this guy was, she didn't like his attitude. When it seemed that no one was looking, Lorelai sneaked a couple of mini-shells and chocolate truffles into her bag.

"Smooth move," He commented, looking sideways at her shoveling maneuver.

Damn you, I thought you were gone.. She frowned. "Hey, man, you were using the same mechanism except into your mouth."

He smirked. "At least I'm not taking home any souvenirs."

"Eat another truffle and keep your mouth shut," Lorelai barked. "It's for.. charity.."

He rolled his eyes. "Women like you annoy me."

"Women like you annoy me," Lorelai replied, putting her hands on her hips.

"Ha!" He smirked. "Good going, name calling. That's always good."

"What do you prefer?" Lorelai shot back. "Fist-fighting?"

"Hm..," James replied. She didn't give him a chance to reply.

"You know, if we were outside, I would bop you on the head, you horseradish breathing jerkface nimcompoop." He was ruining what could be one of the coolest experiences of her life! Lorelai wagged a finger at him. She didn't care that he was.. okay, a little cute.. but he was a jerk.

"James!"

The voice made her turn around. Kim Cattrall.

Lorelai Gilmore was not one to gush and get all hyper when she saw a celebrity.

"Oh my gosh! You're Kim Cattrall!" She gushed.

Ms. Cattrall smiled. "Yes I am." She turned away from Lorelai and turned towards James. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?"

"As a matter of fact..," Lorelai started.

"You're not," James replied and smiled broadly. "How are you, Kim?"

"Great," She replied. "And you are..?"

"Lorelai Gilmore," Lorelai replied and shook the hand she offered.

"You know, James is one of the best directors in the business today," Kim said, smiling broadly. "He's not yet Spielberg, but I'm telling you, he's in the running."

Lorelai forced a smile. "Really? How nice.."

James smirked at her, his hands in tight fists in his pockets.

"Well, I'll just let you two talk," Kim said and waved as she walked away.

"Oh my gosh, you're Kim Cattrall!" James mimicked Lorelai as Kim was lost from their view.

"Ew, shut up!" Lorelai said angrily.

"Whatever," James said, his face in a permanant smirk. "To be honest with you, I don't like you wanna-be actress types. You think if you sleep with me, I'll get you a job?"

Lorelai was completely taken back. "I didn't even KNOW you were a director. And for your information, I don't need a job. I'm not an actress. I own Biltmore Hotel in San Francisco. And I would die before sleeping with you." With that, she stomped away.

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April 2001, Los Angeles, CA, same night

Outside, the cool LA night air swirled around her. She angrily stomped across the concrete, wishing it was his head, and not just a mixture of tiny rocks and sand.

"Hey, wait!"

She ignored him, her heels making little clicking sounds against the concrete.

"Hey!"

She couldn't believe him. He had been such a jerk to her. He had ruined a night that she felt should have been full of glamor and excitement. Now she was just incredibly angry and annoyed that someone would accuse her of her being manipulative. She clenched her fists angrily and swiveled on her heel.

"Leave me alone, I never want to talk to you again," Lorelai snapped. She turned around, just as he grabbed her arms.

Why were his lips against hers?!

Warning signs went off in her head, but she ignored them and let herself be kissed...

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, the next morning

Jess crawled out of his bed just as the early morning sunshine peeked through the thin curtains. Morning. He stuck his head in between the cold glass pane and the curtains. The sunshine made the dewy grass glitter. Picturesque.. Jess through dryly. He softly tiptoed away from the window and went back into his small room. Silently, Jess pulled on a pair of jeans and a worn teeshirt before sneaking out the front door.

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April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, the same morning

One ring. Two. Three.

Frustrated, Jess slammed the phone down on the receiver.

It had been two weeks since he had last talked to James. And no answer.

It was just like his father to forget about him.

Great.. Jess thought and scowled. How was he going to get out of this god forsaken town now?

********************

April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT, a little later..

Luke opened his eyes and squinted as the sunshine hit him in the eyes. Ugh.. He thought and rubbed his eyes. He threw off the covers but didn't get out of bed. Luke slowly turned his head to look at the alarm clock. Six thirty AM blinked on the clock, taunting him to get out of bed.

Groaning, Luke rolled out of bed and sat at the edge. He sighed deeply.

Luke couldn't remember what had induced him to take on his nephew. Everyone in town hated the kid. They thought he was a troublemaker. Heck, he thought the kid was a troublemaker. Luke remembered a time when everyone had been excited to hear that his nephew was coming to visit. Now all they ever said about him was how he had stolen the baseball team's practice balls or how he had feigned a murder in front of Taylor's grocery.

Luke shook his head. Maybe this was all his fault. Maybe.. he was being a bad... dare he say it?.. parent. It was time to show Jess who was boss. Luke straightened his shoulders. He couldn't give up on the kid, not like Liz had. Maybe what the kid needed was someone to straighten him out and give him another chance.

Nodding to himself, Luke stood up and started towards Jess's room. Opening the door, Luke walked in and said, "Je-.."

He was gone.

********************

April 2001, Star's Hollow, CT

Jess leaned against the pay phone, clutching the wrinkled letter in his hand. It was a sham. Jess thought angrily. It was just like when he was younger and he had asked Santa over and over for his dad.

And nothing came out of it. He angrily threw the letter on the ground and started to walk away.

The sound of the ringing pay phone caught his attention. Jess jerked around and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?" A groggy voice asked.

"Uh.. who's this?" Jess said hesitantly.

"Jess?"

"Yeah.."

"It's your dad," James said and yawned. "I thought it was you. I saw the number on my caller ID and it was said out of town.."

"Oh." Jess shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry I haven't called back. I've been busy with work and all."

It's always about you, isn't it, James? Jess thought wryly.

"Anyways, I ordered the ticket."

"Oh."

"There was a bit of waiting list, actually... the plane takes off from JFK airport on the 27th of May. Just tell the lady at the counter your name. I put the ticket in your name so you can access it that way. The flight's at 9 AM, so you should arrive here at 10 AM Pacific time. I'll pick you up at San Francisco Airport."

"Oh okay." Jess cradled the phone between his ear and his shoulder. "Thanks a lot." Damn, I forgot that he thinks I'm in New York..

"No problem," James replied and turned over in his bed. "And Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't call so early in the morning, k, kid?" James asked and yawned. "You do remember that there's a time difference, right?"

Oh, stupid Jess thought and mentally slapped himself on the forehead. There's a three hour difference. "Sorry about that," Jess said, embarrassed.

James smiled to himself. "It's okay. So I'll see you on the 27th then."

"Yeah, thanks a lot."

"Bye, Jess. I really look forward to seeing you."

"Bye." Jess hung up the phone, his dad's last statement ringing in his ears. I really look forward to seeing you, I really look forward to seeing you, I really look forward to seeing you...

********************

April 2001, Los Angeles, CA, 3 AM

James Mariano turned over in his bed and rubbed his eyes. He looked at the little white paper sitting on his nightstand next to his alarm clock. The blinking numbers cast a green glow on the paper. He picked up the paper and fingered it.

Lorelai Gilmore, (415) XXX-XXXX

He fell back on the bed and looked at the paper, thinking back to the night before.

"Is this how you apologize to everyone?" She asked him.
He smiled. "No, just the men," He replied, smirking.
"Ha!" She said, but this time she laughed. The sun had started to set.
"I'm really sorry," He said, abashed. "About the whole sleeping with me thing.. it's just.. it happens sort of a lot.."
She nodded. "I guess it would, in this business."
He nodded slowly and leaned back on the hood of his car.
"It's beautiful..," She breathed, looking over Los Angeles in the fading dusk. They were both standing against his car next to the infamous "HOLLYWOOD" sign, looking over the city.
"Yeah, it is," He replied. He turned to her. "Can I kiss you again?"
She smiled slightly as he leaned into her...

********************

April 2001, Los Angeles, CA, hours later..

"I can't believe you ran off with that guy!" Charlize exclaimed as she threw her clothes into her suitcase.

"I know, I know," Lorelai replied and sighed. "I mean, I can't even remember agreeing to get into his car.. and suddenly we were standing at that sign and he was kissing me.. it was just.." She threw her hands in the air. "I'm probably never going to see him again."

"Do you have his number?" Charlize asked.

"No," Lorelai replied. "But he has mine." She shrugged. "He probably gets like ten numbers a night.. I doubt he'll call." She closed her suitcase and hauled it off the bed.

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